Fitness Forecast: Lifestyle Changes for Every Chinese Zodiac Sign

Are you ready for it? Chinese New Year 2018 is set on the 16th of the love month, February. It would be the 4,715th celebration of Spring Festival and is said to be the Year of the Earth Dog in the Chinese zodiac.

It signifies exciting times ahead. The dog is a symbol of determination and vitality, so 2018 is going to be a great year for self-improvement and transformation.

In fact, it’s the perfect year for ambitious effort: the bigger the goal, the greater the rewards. Now is not the time to sit around and dilly-dally. You snooze, you lose. Check out these lifestyle changes for each Chinese zodiac sign and work your way to a happier and healthier life.

RAT

(Born 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008)

Chinese New Year 2018 is going lead persons who were born in the year of the Rat a smooth-sailing life, specifically health-wise. The biggest challenge to guard against this year is fatigue, so those born under this sign should focus on one thing: rest.

This year, set a sleep schedule and stick to it. Getting the full eight hours isn’t easy, especially for those who are always busy. Nevertheless, adding just thirty more minutes to your sleep schedule can be wondrous. After all, sleep deficiency can negatively impact your heart and kidney, as well as increased risk for obesity, depression, diabetes, and hypertension.

OX

(Born 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009)

It’s a generally positive year for health for those born in the Year of the Ox, but minor illnesses stemming from stress or a weak immune system can be a problem in 2018.

improve your work-life balance! This year, find a new sport or workout routine. Getting into a new sport is a good way to rekindle your interest in exercise. Your usual routine can become a chore over time, so a new sport or exercise class is a great way to reset everything.

TIGER

(Born 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010)

2018 is a lucky year for those born under the Tiger sign, but it’s still important to guard against unexpected illnesses. Stress, poor hygiene, and dietary imbalance can all contribute to health problems this year.

RABBIT

(Born 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011)

As Chinese New Year 2018 founded on being the year of the Dog, it will be a lighter year for those who were born in the year of the Rabbit since the dog considers the rabbit as his secret friend.

For people born in the Year of the Rabbit, 2018 is going to be a wonderful year of opportunities. Unfortunately, abundance can also mean heightened stress, and the biggest health concern they need to combat this year is mental burnout.

The best way to beat stress and prevent burnout is to meditate for five to ten minutes every day. It’s a small step to take, but meditation has proven positive effects on mental and physical health. A 2012 study published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity showed that those who undertook mindful meditation for eight weeks managed to reduce stress-induced inflammation.

DRAGON

(Born 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012)

Dragons will find 2018 quite challenging. Heavy workloads, multiple projects, and demanding bosses will all contribute to make this a pretty stressful year. Proper planning can help them cope with the career challenges, but health-wise, Dragons will have to be extra careful to prevent illnesses.

Limit caffeine consumption as you try to improve your overall diet this 2018. Caffeine in itself isn’t a health risk, but too much can make stress a lot worse, lead to headaches, and affect concentration.

SNAKE

(Born 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013)

Those born under the Snake sign need not worry for Chinese New Year 2018 smiles upon them, but that does not mean you can let go and relax! This 2018, Snakes should make an effort to boost their health any way they can.

The best lifestyle change for those born in the Year of the Snake: increase your workout intensity. Beat the dreaded weight loss plateau, set a new personal record, and see a significant improvement in your overall health. Here’s an impressive example: French retiree Robert Marchand set new cycling records at 103 years old after his physiologist added more intense pedaling to his training regimen.

HORSE

(Born 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014)

Stress, tension, and negativity can all contribute to a difficult 2018 for those born under the Horse sign, and the biggest health concern to look out for this year is depression. Mental health is a serious matter and can lead to further problems if left unchecked.

This year: take up yoga. Exercise by itself can have a very positive effect on mental health, but yoga is particularly helpful for anxiety and depression. Yoga combines exercise with meditation, which greatly contributes to stress reduction.

GOAT

(Born 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015)

Like those born under the Snake sign, Goats are going to have a great year this 2018. This year: be active. 30 minutes of physical activity per day is all you need. You don’t have to get all thirty minutes in one go, either.

Go for fifteen-minute walks at morning and at night, and you’ve got your daily requirement covered!

MONKEY

(Born 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016)

It might be a rocky year for the Monkey this 2018, thanks to unforeseen changes and challenges at work. Health-wise, those born under the Monkey sign will have to focus more on eating right.

Eat fast food only once per week this year to maintain a healthy diet. Completely removing fast food can be a challenge, thanks to social demands and time constraints, but commit to minimize your fast food consumption to ensure a healthier, more balanced diet this year.

ROOSTER

(Born 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)

Roosters will need to be extra careful with their health this year, thanks to a multitude of issues like stress and anxiety at work. Eating right and exercising regularly are definitely necessary to stave off minor illnesses.

One lifestyle change to commit to this year: moderate your alcohol consumption. It can be tempting to drink more when you’re stressed, but you won’t be doing your health any favors. Heavy alcohol consumption contributes to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cirrhosis, and even depression.

DOG

(Born 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018)

It’s your year! Jump into 2018 with your characteristic positivity and fearlessness. This year, make sure to improve your diet — double your vegetable intake per meal. If you normally eat one serving of veggies with your lunch and dinner, go for twice that amount. Ask for double the portion of vegetable sides when you eat out with your friends. Consuming vegetables is a good way to improve your diet without packing on the calories.

PIG

(Born 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007)

Those born under the Pig sign will have a good year ahead, through mindfulness and positivity are always necessary. Working out regularly is a definite must to maintain good health, but this year, make sure to stretch properly before exercising. It’s a small step that even fitness aficionados can overlook, so for 2018, definitely make the commitment to do proper stretching every time you workout.

Stretching correctly improves your body’s flexibility, prepares your joints for physical activity, and reduces the possibility of injury. It also improves your muscles’ performance as you build up the intensity for specific movements.

“Health is wealth,” and that should be enough reason why, no matter what your sign may be, you need to be fit. Let this Chinese New Year 2018 be full of positive changes and success.